19th edition of ISUZU IRONMAN African Championship in South ...

26 days ago

endurancebusiness.com

On Sunday, April 21st, nearly 2,000 athletes will descend on Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa to compete in the third edition of ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay, and the 19th edition of the IRONMAN African Championship.

Championship - Figure 1 — Photo endurancebusiness.com

Elite athletes will be racing for the title of IRONMAN African Champion, as well as one of four slots (per gender) to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship, and a piece of the US$150,000 prize money.

ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay takes place on the same day and is an age-grouper only event.

Among the elite triathlete field will be 10-time IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Daniela Ryf (CHE) who is racing as one of her final eight races around the world as part of her retirement tour. Having won the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2018, as well as the ISUZU IRONMAN African Championship in 2017, she is no stranger to racing in the Eastern Cape.

Daniela Bleymehl (DEU) will also be toeing the line in the women’s field. As the 2022 IRONMAN African Champion, she will be looking to reclaim her crown after missing the 2023 edition when compatriot, Laura Philipp, took the win.

Also racing in the women’s field will be South African Magda Nieuwoudt, Susie Cheetham (GBR), Marta Sanchez (ESP), Laura Zimmerman (DEU) and more.

In the men’s field, the absence of the 2023 IRONMAN African Champion, Clement Mignon (FRA), means that a new champion will be crowned this year. Matt Trautman (ZAF) will undoubtedly be looking for a win on home soil.

Also familiar with racing on the Eastern Cape is Mathias Petersen (DEN) and Rasmus Svenningsson (SWE) who came third and fourth respectively last year.

Other elite male athletes in the mix include: Cameron Wurf (AUS), two-time Olympian, Alistair Brownlee (GBR), Bart Aernouts (BEL), Arthur Horseau (FRA) Joshua Amberger (AUS), Krisian Hogenhaug (DEN) and more.